Regina to expand number of backyard mini-homes

There will be more backyard "granny flats" in Regina's future, if the city has its way.

A proposal to expand the number of granny flats or laneway suites — which are secondary residences built at the back of existing properties — goes to the Regina Planning Commission Wednesday afternoon.

The plan calls for 10 to 20 new mini-homes to be built in established areas of the city. The city wants to start the process in the first three months of 2016.

Regina has about 200,000 people, but city planners are looking ahead to a few decades from now when the population will be 300,000.

They want 30 per cent of the growth to come from "infill housing" in existing neighbourhoods. Secondary suites could help them reach that goal.

They go by various names, including:

• laneway suites.
• garden suites.
• granny flats.
• secondary suites.
• garage suites.
• carriage houses.
• coach houses.
• detached additional dwelling units.

The city has spent the last few months developing guidelines for laneway and garden suites and they will be part of the new pilot project.

Any new backyard suites will need to have water and sewer hookups and the mini-homes will be limited to a maximum area of 80 square metres (861 square feet).

The city had previously approved a limited number of laneway suites in two brand-new neighbourhoods — Harbour Landing and Greens on Gardiner.

Now, the pilot is being expanded to the Heritage area and other existing neighbourhoods.

If the planning commission gives the go-ahead, the proposal will go to City Council for final approval. That will happen on Jan. 25.